CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) had recovered the flight data recorder of the ill-fated Airbus H-130 Eurocopter that crashed in Malolos, Bulacan last week.
Killed in the crash was businessman Liberato “Levy” P. Laus, his long-time driver Wilfran Esteban, and pilot Captain Everette “Eder” Coronel.
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Caap spokesperson Eric Apolonio said Tuesday, April 30, that the data recorder can shed light on what really happened to the helicopter.
The flight data recorder, however, would have to be processed in France and would take six months to completely evaluate the content of its technical data.
Caap said investigators have already reached out to Airbus Industries, manufacturer of the Airbus Eurocopter, for the processing of the flight data recorder.
It added that initial investigation showed no signs of explosion on the parts of the crashed chopper, which negates earlier eyewitness accounts.
Mangled parts of the helicopter are now being put together and reconstructed at the Caap hangar in Plaridel, Bulacan to aid investigators on what really happened to the crashed chopper.
Earlier reports said the chopper was bound for San Fernando, Pampanga when it plunged into a fishpond in Barangay Anilao in Malolos, Bulaca at 12:47 p.m. of April 25.
Caap said the helicopter took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) General Aviation Hangar at 12:28 p.m. but never reached its Pampanga destination. The chopper, which bears the body number RP C8098, was owned and operated by LGC Air Transport.
Laus, who headed the conglomerate LausGroup of Companies, was declared dead on arrival at the Bulacan Medical Center.